Frequently Asked Questions and General Information about the Mary D. Ainsworth Clinic
What do you charge for services and what insurance do you accept?
The clinic does not charge for services; because services are free, we do not process anything through insurance companies.
Can I be seen at your clinic if I am not a UVa student?
Our clinic offers therapy services to members of the Charlottesville area community as well as UVa students, staff, faculty and others in the UVa community. In addition, we offer testing/assessment services for children and adolescents in the Charlottesville area community.
Do you see children at your clinic?
Children and adolescents are generally seen by advanced students at our clinic. Therefore, there are fewer openings, and these openings are more difficult to predict.
Will I see a psychologist when I come to your clinic?
Most of our services (therapy and assessment) are provided by graduate students. These students are in the Clinical Psychology PhD program, and they are supervised by Licensed Clinical Psychologists who are faculty members at the University. Therapy sessions and psychological assessments or testing are videotaped for supervision purposes. There are occasional and very limited openings with faculty members at the clinic. These sessions are also frequently taped or viewed by students, as part of the students’ training.
Your voicemail says you are full for therapy – can you add me to a waiting list?
Once our openings for the year are filled, we generally will not have openings until the following academic year (beginning in September). Due to the uncertainty of additional openings, we are unable to keep a waiting list, until we are accepting clients for the following academic year. When requested, we can assist in providing contact information for additional therapy resources in the area.
Can you prescribe medication?
Our clinic does not have a psychiatrist on staff and does not offer psychiatric services. If you need psychiatric services, we would recommend that those be in place prior to beginning counseling at our clinic. We can assist in providing contact information for local psychiatric resources.
Can you provide me with accommodations for my school or job?
Receiving testing at our clinic is only the first step in obtaining accommodations for test taking, school, or work. If our testing finds that you meet criteria for a diagnosis or condition that requires accommodations, then, the first step of this process has been met. It is up to the institution providing the accommodations however, to make the final decision as to what, if any, accommodations will be given.
Do you perform attachment evaluations?
No. The Ainsworth Attachment Clinic on East Jefferson Street performs attachment evaluations. Our clinics are often confused with one another due to the similarity of their names.